Friday, September 14

"You must be Mr. Morrell..."

When I go into a large hospital, much less call a large hospital I don't expect to be expected. This morning I called Virginia Mason and was transfered to "bed control" to see what time I should come in to start chemo.

Me: "Hello, I'm calling to see what time I should come in today."
Her: "You must be Mr. Morrell."
Me: "Creepy..."
Her: "How about high noon... no scratch that, how about 1."
Me: "Works for me. Thanks."

I can't believe that I am the ONLY person expected to come into Virginia Mason today am I? I don't know... kind'a strange when someone from something that big singles you out. That said I've got a few more hours of freedom before the chemo starts up. (Actually probably most of the day... if I don't get in until 1, odds are good I won't be getting chemo until 5 or 7 tonight.)

I view chemo 6 as a kind of last chemical hurdle I have to get over. Chemo 7 we've seen isn't "fun" per se, but it doesn't bring me down as hard as this type of chemo does. So chemo 7 will be a bunch of sitting in the hospital waiting for things to happen. Odds are good I'll even be able to work during the next chemo via remote laptop connection. Thus making this next chemo the "hurdle" to get over because of how it will make me feel for the next couple of weeks.

Prayer requests would be that this weekend goes by quickly. That I won't feel too sick, that I can take all the pills they give me (I have a problem swallowing pills) and that I will have a positive attitude and be a light to the nurses who have to work there over the weekend.

~B.

5 comments:

  1. This is almost equally improbable, but could you be the only male they're expecting?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous12:19 PM

    i agree with katie, maybe your the only guy coming in for chemo today, i kinda like it that they know me by name when i go in every 2 to 3 weeks for blood draws.

    i'll be praying that this round of chemo isn't that harsh on ya and that life will be going back to normal

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous12:24 PM

    That's the thing, if it was JUST chemo I would understand. I called Virginia Mason and talked to the bed coordinator for the WHOLE hospital. 17 stories and 2 or more buildings. And she knows who I am. Yikes.

    ~B.

    ReplyDelete
  4. My son (who also has DSRCT) found out that bringing bribes (I mean gifts) for staff taking care of you
    always meant you'd get top notch care on the spur of the moment. Of course all he ever needed was his wonderful smile, but the chocolates seemed to also be particularly endearing to the nurses.

    Being six feet tall in a pediatric ward also had its limitations as far as bedding was concerned (his legs tended to hang off the end of the bed). After awhile the nurses all knew he was coming in for chemo and had the bed extention ready and installed before he even got to the room. Those chocolates he brought were apparently memorable.

    Staff always seem to know when chemo patients are arriving, even when you don't bring chocolate.

    Patty R
    Mom to Nathan, dx 3/05, DSRCT

    ReplyDelete
  5. The best thing in the world for this mom to hear was what one of the PCT's said to you yesterday: "I just love your attitude." "YES!" I thought to myself, "way to go, Ben!"

    And even in light of the somewhat grumpy nurse who seemed to be really trying to get you in a grouchy mood (I really didn't understand her motives...), I thought you did very well.

    You and Lisa have been temporarily called to the mission field of Virginia Mason Hospital. Let them see the Lord Jesus in you!

    ReplyDelete

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